A multivariate study of differentiating characters between three European species of the genus Lasiochernes Beier, 1932 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chernetidae)

By

Christophoryová, Jana
Krajčovičová, Katarína
Henderickx, Hans
Španiel, Stanislav

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2016

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

629

Pages

51-81

Subjects

Caves , mole nests , Morphology , morphometric analysis , pseudoscorpion , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.629.8445

 

Abstract

Morphological variation in three rarely collected European species of the genus Lasiochernes Beier, 1932 is thoroughly examined in the present study. Detailed descriptions of previously ignored morphological characters of L. cretonatus Henderickx, 1998, L. jonicus (Beier, 1929) and L. pilosus (Ellingsen, 1910) are presented. The female of L. cretonatus and the nymphs of L. pilosus are described for the first time. Multivariate morphometric techniques (principal coordinate analysis and discriminant analyses) were employed to confirm morphological differentiation of the three Lasiochernes species and to identify the most reliable characters for their separation. The usefulness of particular body parts for species identification was evaluated. An identification key for the females of the Lasiochernes species studied is provided. Geographic distribution and habitat preferences of the three species are summarized.